Heritage Strategy Task Force Releases Final Report

Fifty-nine recommendations for a provincial heritage strategy were issued today, Dec. 14, in a report entitled Our Heritage Future: A Shared Responsibility.

The report was released by Voluntary Planning's Heritage Strategy Task Force.

The report addresses a range of issues affecting Nova Scotia's cultural and natural heritage. The task force calls upon the provincial government to make a number of difficult decisions, to invest more in heritage, and to create several key partnerships.

"This is the first document of its kind in Nova Scotia, and it's a very positive first step," said Maureen Reid, chair of the task force. "These recommendations lay the groundwork, and now its over to government to consider these recommendations in shaping Nova Scotia's official heritage strategy."

Task force members worked more than 16 months to ensure Nova Scotians had an opportunity to participate in the public dialogue on heritage. They conducted 22 community hall meetings, attended by nearly 1,000 people; received 500 written submissions; met with numerous organizations and heritage specialists; conducted worldwide research; and published an interim report in June so people could comment on initial findings.

Specific recommendations include:

• the need to focus on cultural diversity, particularly Nova Scotia's Mi'kmaw, Acadian, and African Nova Scotian communities
• review, rationalize and restructure the province's museums system as soon as possible
• repeal the Treasure Trove Act to protect Nova Scotia's underwater heritage
• create a Nova Scotia Heritage Council to act as a strong independent voice on behalf of the heritage sector
• amend the Heritage Property Act to enable municipalities to protect municipally registered heritage properties.

Voluntary Planning conducted the review on behalf of the province of Nova Scotia in partnership with the Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage and the Federation of Nova Scotian Heritage.

A copy of the report can found on the heritage strategy page of the Voluntary Planning website at www.gov.ns.ca/vp .

Voluntary Planning is Nova Scotia's citizens' policy forum. It is an arm's-length board of the government mandated to engage citizens on important policy issues for the future.